British & Irish Lions prop Adam Jones faces six months on the sidelines after it was confirmed that his dislocated shoulder would require surgery.

Jones, who picked up the injury following a controversial clearout by Springbok lock Bakkies
Botha during the second Test in Pretoria, has damaged ligaments in his shoulder and will require extra surgery to repair the damage. The 28-year-old prop was one of the most improved players on the Lions tour, winning two Test caps and memorably going toe-to-toe with the 'Beast' Tendai Mtawarira.

His injury has taken a back-seat since the Tests following Botha's two-week ban for the challenge, a decision that raised concerns among both the Springbok and Lions camps. Jones also admitted that he had no problem with the challenge as the South African squad protested the ban by wearing white armbands during Saturday's third Test loss to the tourists.

Jones underwent a scan in Cardiff after meeting with Ospreys physios, and will now miss their Heineken Cup pool games as well as Wales' autumn internationals against New Zealand, Samoa, Argentina and Australia in November.

"Adam had a scan at the Vale Clinic in Cardiff, which confirmed that he had torn ligaments in the shoulder in the process of the dislocation," said Ospreys physio Chris Towers. "In light of these findings he then saw a specialist who has recommended that the best management of the injury is to undergo surgery to repair the ligament damage.

"We would expect excellent results from the surgery, however, we are looking at a timescale of around six months before Adam would be able to play rugby again."